PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Sakurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Wilder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sakurai
vs
Wilder

185 cm
21
203 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
194 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hiro Sakurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Van Wilder!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilder misses with a straight left.
Sakurai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakurai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Wilder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wilder misses the jab.
Wilder throws a looping overhand right but Sakurai ducks down to avoid it.
Wilder takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wilder misses the jab.
Sakurai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wilder missing with a left hand there. Sakurai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sakurai connects with a right hand. Wilder shakes it off.
The crowd cheers as Wilder lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sakurai doesn't seem phased though.
Wilder throws a right hand that Sakurai ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakurai also avoids with ease.
Sakurai avoids the body shot from Wilder.
Wilder takes one on the button.
Wilder blocks a jab.
Wilder loads up on a big right hand but Sakurai slips the punch.
Sakurai lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wilder scores with a jab to the jaw.
Van Wilder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai scores with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Wilder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakurai lands with a straight right. Wilder didn't see that one coming.
Sakurai misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Wilder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wilder throws a hook to the side of Sakurai's head but Sakurai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sakurai with a nice cross.
Wilder misses with an uppercut. Sakurai saw that one coming.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Wilder, as that shot connected.
Wilder misses with an uppercut. Sakurai saw that one coming.
Wilder is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sakurai.
A combination from Wilder does no damage.
Sakurai's corner calls for a 1-2. Sakurai obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wilder takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wilder swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai slips a straight right by Wilder.
Sakurai dodges the punch combination from Wilder.
Sakurai blocks a jab.
Wilder looks gassed!
Sakurai connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sakurai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder.
Sakurai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sakurai scores with a jab to the head.
Sakurai fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wilder fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sakurai is out of range.
Sakurai connects with a looping right hand.
Nice shot lands for Sakurai.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilder takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wilder might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Wilder thows a body shot but no joy.
Sakurai slips a jab from Wilder.
Sakurai blocks the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wilder swings away with a body shot that misses

and Sakurai counters with a shoot takedown. Wilder fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakurai slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sakurai throws a big right hand that misses.
Sakurai postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sakurai trying to control but Wilder is working from the bottom.
Sakurai looking to pass the guard.
Sakurai has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wilder keeping moving, preventing Sakurai from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilder is keeping the position for now.
Sakurai trying to control but Wilder is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Wilder throws out a loose jab but Sakurai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wilder connects with a looping right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakurai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wilder throws out the jab.
Wilder misses with a double jab
and Sakurai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sakurai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Sakurai dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wilder misses with a double jab
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sakurai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder.
Sakurai fails to land with a series of punches.
The fighters circling - Wilder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wilder misses with a combination
and Sakurai counters with a nice body shot.
Sakurai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wilder throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Sakurai to counter with a crisp jab.
Wilder falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wilder looks to land a right hand but Sakurai moved out of range.
Wilder throws the left hand but Sakurai avoids the punch easily.
Hiro Sakurai is winning the standup battle so far.
Sakurai moves out of range as Wilder strikes.
Wilder is breathing heavily.
Wilder throws a combination that misses
and Sakurai counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wilder falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Sakurai to counter with a crisp jab.
Sakurai staying out of range there.
Sakurai thuds a left hand into Wilder's body.
Sakurai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sakurai lands with a kick to the temple. Wilder shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A jab from Sakurai does it's job there.
Nice uppercut lands for Sakurai. That snapped Wilder's head back.
Sakurai lands a jab to Wilder's midsection.
Wilder gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sakurai tests Wilder's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wilder throws a combination that misses
and Sakurai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sakurai bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wilder's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sakurai closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sakurai taking a breather here.
Sakurai wants to control but Wilder is keeping him busy.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sakurai controls the position.

Sakurai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wilder is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wilder is not content to let Sakurai control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai is trying to get an arm triangle but Wilder is defending well.
Sakurai trying to control the position but Wilder is working away.
Wilder is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakurai connects with a single shot there.
Wilder on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sakurai scores with a decent looking hook.
Sakurai ducks under a wild hook from Wilder.
A big left from Wilder misses.
Wilder throws a hook but Sakurai blocks it.
Good exchange - Wilder coming out on top.
Wilder throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sakurai counters with a nice body shot.
Wilder misses with a body shot
and Sakurai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakurai throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Wilder.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Sakurai dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sakurai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wilder.
Sakurai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wilder.
Sakurai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilder walks into a straight right hand from Sakurai.
A jab from Wilder misses.
Wilder missing with a left hand there. Sakurai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wilder throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sakurai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Wilder thinking.
Wilder misses with a double jab
and Sakurai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wilder jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wilder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilder throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sakurai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A jab from Wilder misses.
Sakurai cracks Wilder with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wilder misses with a double jab
and Sakurai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakurai lands a head kick. Wilder smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Wilder misses with a combination
and Sakurai counters with a nice uppercut.
Wilder has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sakurai lands a nice hook to Wilder's body. Wilder takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sakurai lands the left hand.
Wilder throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sakurai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sakurai moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Wilder takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wilder needs to keep his hands up - Sakurai had a free shot at his head there.
Sakurai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sakurai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Wilder takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wilder misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakurai lands with a shot to the body.
Sakurai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder.
Sakurai scores with a sloppy right hand. Wilder should have avoided that one.
A low kick from Wilder misses

and Sakurai counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sakurai.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Sakurai drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakurai jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sakurai advances to half guard.
Sakurai trying to control the action but Wilder is working from the bottom.
Wilder is trying to stand up here but Sakurai is controlling him well.
Sakurai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakurai is looking for a kimura here.
Wilder pushes Sakurai off looking to stand but Sakurai dives back in and keeps control.
Van Wilder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hiro Sakurai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sakurai thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sakurai is working for a kimura but Wilder is defending it quite comfortably.
Sakurai stops Wilder from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wilder connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sakurai momentarily.
Wilder throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sakurai counters with a single leg into guard. Wilder didn't expect that.
Wilder utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakurai controlling from the top position.
Sakurai's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sakurai wants to control from the top but Wilder keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Sakurai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sakurai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Sakurai!